System of package filling and sealing

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to means for package sealing. In particular, it refers to a system of machines for package filling and sealing that comprises a pair of oscillating arms opposed and facing each other, simultaneously activated by a main cog through rods. The facing faces of the oscillating arms unite mid-point to them so, in other coordinated operation, to press, cut and seal the sleeve forming the bag in process, which displaces itself through that mid-point. The invention also involves means for pre-piling up in the feeding of the packages, as soon as means for compressing the packages by vibration and compressing the bale formed by the whole of the packages.

BRIEF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A characteristic of package sealing systems of the prior technique is the complexity of its functioning and of the elements comprising them, where generally linear or gyratory mechanisms are used that require in one or the other case a multiplicity of pieces that operate repetitively to enter and exit a determined cycle of the process. On the other hand, such diversity of pieces require bearings, bars and rotation or pivoting points that it is necessary to lubricate and therefore susceptible of accumulating residue of products that in some way or independently from the material being processed, may result abrasive or at least, to form a kind of paste with the lubricant, preventing the action this last one.

The present invention appears to solve the aforementioned problems with a simple mechanism and a minimum of pieces,

-   -   where besides its movements are limited and of a short run.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and details that define the invention are graphically represented in the annexed illustrative figures, very schematized but expressive of the movement and operation of the whole, wherein the basic operations executed by the system are shown. It is worth observing that in lieu of simplicity only the mechanism of the sealing system and its connected mechanisms are shown, obviating other components such as the bag dragging mechanisms, relays, run limiters, electronic synchronization devices and others used in the specialty, being they of the conventional type. Likewise, each one of FIGS. 1-4 that follow, show a plain and a connected view tri-dimensionally represented for a better understanding of the several elements and their location. In such cases there only shall be made reference in description to the plain views, through the usual identifying numbering of the elements.

FIG. 1, is a view that shows the system at a stage that corresponds to the position of a bag already filled and sealed at its bottom and waiting for the upper seal and where the oscillating arms are at the most distant position between them.

FIG. 2, is a view where the main cog has made a descending movement, transmitting the corresponding movement to the oscillating arms through the rods, determining the imprisonment of the bag's sleeve.

FIG. 3, is a view that shows the sealing and cutting of the portion of the imprisoned sleeve.

FIG. 4, is a view that shows the return movement of the main cog to its initial position of the FIG. 1 (prior to the descent of the sleeve), where the bag being processed has already been sealed and freed.

FIG. 5 is a partial, schematic view, in projection, of the pre-piling mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a partial, schematic view, in projection, of the compressing whole of the packages.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show a sequence of compression of the bale formed.

FIGS. 1 to 4 correspond, in a general way, with the sealing stages of the bag, whereas the other FIGS. 5 to 7 b correspond with connected operations of the system.

From the aforementioned figures and in particular from FIG. 1, it can be noted that the system possesses a cog 8 foreseen to operate in an alternative way, limited to a part of rotation of same, which is connected mechanically to rods 7, in their turn connected, the first one to an oscillating arm 4A further and the second one, to oscillating arm 4B closer. Oscillating arms 4A and 4B have towards their superior internal extreme clamps and counter-clamps 2, respectively and in the space interposed between said clamps and counter-clamps 2, there can be found a sealing element 5 with an intermediate concavity in oscillating arm 4A and a counter-sealing element 6, with a cutting knife in oscillating arm 4B.

A descending sleeve 3, generally formed by a plastic film, is foreseen to descend at synchronized intervals by a dragging mechanism (not shown) through the mid-space formed by the clamps and counter-clamps 2, when they are in the position shown in FIG. 1.

The system condition, shown in FIG. 1, is that which corresponds to a “frozen” stage (since the process is continuous) wherein a part of the bag (formed from the sleeve) has already been filled and sealed at its bottom extreme and is waiting for the sealing and upper cut and therefore, set within the space formed between the clamps-counter-clamps 2 and as a consequence of the elevated position of the alternative movement cog 8, which keeps contracted rods 7 and oscillating arms 4A/4B.

FIG. 2 shows the moment immediately after the one pointed out for FIG. 1, where cog 8 has made a movement of partial rotation downwards, which movement causes that the clamps/counter-clamps 2 should displace themselves to meet at a central intermediate point, imprisoning at said point the previously arranged part of the sleeve 3/bag 1 (FIG. 1). In this guise, of imprisonment of the sleeve/bag, which corresponds to the upper part of said bag 1, take part the elements of sealing 5 and counter-sealing 6 (see FIG. 3), lineally propped and in opposite directions (mechanism not shown, movement indicate by a horizontal arrow) towards the center, where such elements 5 thermally “saw” the plastic film of sleeve 3 in two parallel areas upper and lower (determined by the two projections in the guise of “C” of element 5), leaning on the countersealing element 6. This action determines the obtaining of the sealing of the bag's bottom that is going to be formed (upper sealing element) and at the same time defines the upper sealing of bag 1 already formed (lower sealing element). The counter-sealing element 6 possesses a cutting knife that inserts itself during the sealing in the cavity formed by the sealing elements 5, defining now the separation of bag 1 lower already formed, from the upper bag in the process of formation. However, both parts of the plastic film of sleeve 3 and of bag 1 are kept in position by the subjecting effect of clamps 2.

The later and last stage, before beginning a new cycle, may be seen in FIG. 4, where the movement of cog 8 has again ascended provoking the separation of oscillating bodies4A/4B and therefore of clamps and counter-clamps 2, wherefore now the bag 1 is freed and drops because of gravity.

An important and novel characteristic of the system, is the movement that oscillating bodies 4A-4B make and which, of course, is transmitted to clamps and counter-clamps 2 which imprison the sleeve maker of the bag. It may be seen that this movement is not linear but moreover of a progressive sealing, making a little angular “sweep” of the clamps-counter-clamps that rotate on an imaginary lower apex arranged lower than said clamps.

This particularity determines a uniform sealing, non aggressive, on the sleeve's lamina and therefore a better sealing.

FIG. 5 shows the way the packages which are going to be packed or baled pile up, where a transporting belt 9 drives packages 10 towards a fixed platform 12 in a controlled way, so as to form a certain number of packages lined up (two packages in the alluded figure) on platform 12. This counting of the number of packages is done by a mobile plate 11 connected to a sensor (not shown), in such a way that when a certain number of packages (two in this case) pass, a thrust plate 13 is activated, of a movement perpendicular to that of the transporting belt 9, that will push said packages on a “lung” or mobile box 14, that will go down automatically, in a coordinated manner, as it receives packages 10, that later and as it has been explained before are sacked in bag 1.

Once the packages 10 are placed in the bag 1, which has already its bottom formed, the whole of bag 1 and packages 10 is subjected to lateral vibrations by plates 15, in such a way that packages 10 should get perfectly compressed inside the bag 1, as is shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 a is a front schematic view of the bag formed an filled with the packages, already pressed over a lower pusher 16, where still there is an upper space vacant, which in FIG. 7 b is eliminated by the thrust upwards of pusher 16.

It may be seen from all that has been previously expounded, the simplicity and plainness of the mechanisms used, which shall determine the ease of operation and efficiency in production. 

1. A system for filling and sealing packages, where it is made use of a set of elements to fill, hold, seal and deliver a bag formed from a film sleeve of thermoplastic material, said system comprising an alternative movement cog connected to a couple of rods that activate opposing oscillating arms, where said oscillating arms also comprise within their internal upper face elements of clamps/counter-clamps, thermal sealing elements and cutting elements.
 2. A system, according to claim 1, wherein because said cog presents an alternative movement that corresponds with a portion of rotation of same, which movement is transmitted to a couple of rods connected to certain opposing oscillating arms that define a converging/diverging displacement on a point intermediate between them, as of the relative position of the alternating cog.
 3. A system, according to claim 1, where the oscillating arms possess within their upper internal faces or of contact, subjection clamps and counter-clamps of a sleeve of thermoplastic material forming the bag, where said sleeve runs in the intermediate space formed between the oscillating arms.
 4. A system, according to claim 1, where the oscillating arms besides comprise between the clamps and counter-clamps, parallel sealing and counter-sealing elements, upper and lower, for the thermal union of the sleeve forming the bag in their upper and lower extremes.
 5. A system, according to claim 1, wherein because between the sealing and counter-sealing elements are arranged cutting elements to separate the intermediate space of the sleeve/bag between the upper and the lower sealing and which define the sealing of the bottom of the bag in formation and the sealing of the upper extreme of the already formed bag.
 6. A system, according to claim 1, where the feeding of said system is done by means of a transporting belt or endless belt, which drives the packages up to a platform furnished with a lateral pushing plate, which is activated when it supports a predetermined number of packages, by means of a sensor-counter, pushing the packages towards a piling box.
 7. A system, according to claim 1, comprising a lower pusher element, once the bag has been filled and placed over said pusher, that thrusts the whole upwards, to eliminate the upper empty space and forms a bale essentially free from spaces not occupied by packages. 